Category Archives: News

Meadow site in preparation; site of “Fishponds Stage” in centre foreground (the earthworks of the medieval fishponds are in the middle distance on the right).Important delivery…CBMF Bar 2018: 25 beers racked in record time, awaiting their cooling jackets.

We seem to be (dare I say!) slightly ahead of schedule with setting up the meadow for the Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival this year. The weather forecast for this weekend looks good – not quite so hot and blisteringly sunny as last year, which is probably a good thing, but still pleasantly warm and slightly breezy. And most importantly, 25 barrels of ale were delivered and installed yesterday evening…
…so you shouldn’t go thirsty, even if it does turn really hot! (And yes, we’ll also have six ciders and some token lagers, wine, including prosecco, and soft drinks for the kiddies and other abstainers as well!)

The interactive version of the music programme for CB2018 is now live on our Midsummer Festival 2018 page, with biographies and photos of all the artists appearing on both stages on June 23rd and 24th. There’s an alphabetical list of who’s on and when; there are links to their websites, Facebook pages, sound recordings and YouTube clips where available, so you can check out the whole fantastic running order and decide who you want to hear. The only problem, as with any good festival, is going to be choosing between stages!

If you’d like to print off a hard copy to peruse at your leisure, you can download it here by clicking on the images below (but be aware that it is wider than A4, so you’ll either need an A3 printer, or you’ll have to print it out at a reduced size).

Printed programmes should be available in the village and elsewhere by midweek, in time for the Festival weekend.

The links to almost all the bands’ webpages and Facebook pages are now live over on our Midsummer Festival 2018 page, so if you want to find out more about a performer, you can go straight to their page (without closing ours down!).

Full biogs and photos will follow soon, together with the planned running order and timings.

Bythams Midsummer Festival 2018 wants to hear from YOU!

Yes, it’s that time of year again, when we invite musicians and singers to play at Castle Bytham’s free annual music festival over the weekend of 23–24 June 2018. We welcome a broad range of musical styles ­– from bands to solo acoustic performers – and are keen to encourage new and young performers.

This unique two-day midsummer event, a highlight of the local music calendar, has an enviable reputation. Featuring musical acts from near and far, it has all the creative energy you would expect from a far larger festival of arts.

St Martin’s Meadow main arena (Marquee Stage in centre)

In the fantastic scenic setting of St Martin’s Meadow (lying at the foot of the Norman castle mound), our large Marquee Stage (fully covered, for performers and a large audience) is now successfully joined within the same arena by an “Acoustic” stage. Full sound rigs, operated by experienced sound engineers, and lighting are provided.

We estimate attendance at 3,000­–4,000 over the weekend, with up to 750 people in St Martin’s Meadow at peak times.

Be part of the Bythams Midsummer Festival experience

The music will alternate between two stages (from approx. 2.00pm–10.30pm on Saturday 23 June* and approx. 11.30am–6.00pm on Sunday 24 June*), with sets lasting 25–60 minutes. Sunday’s music programme is an integral part of the long-established Castle Bytham Midsummer Fair, with its famous street market and many other entertainments woven throughout the centre of the village.

The main Marquee Stage, set within a large marquee and wider outdoor arena, plays to audiences of 400–500 people and can accommodate acts as diverse as big bands and dance troupes, school choirs and rock groups.

Providing a more intimate setting, ideal for solo acts, duos or trios, the open-air Acoustic Stage is itself covered. And as in previous years, there may be opportunities for performances at venues elsewhere in the historic village.

Performers love to play at this friendly festival

Bythams Midsummer Festival is run entirely by volunteers; proceeds support local charities and good causes. We hope that performers will support our ethos, but modest fees and expenses are negotiable; we also provide you with refreshments on the day.

We also promise a great sound system, an appreciative audience, a write-up in our professionally designed colour souvenir programme, the chance to promote your work and sell CDs and other merchandise, but above all, the opportunity to be part of this unique event.

We’re delighted to confirm some extra names to add to the already impressive list of performers for this year’s Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival.

In line with our ethos of encouraging young and emerging talent, on Saturday we are especially pleased that Rutland Radio will be introducing young Stamford singer-songwriter Chloe Lorentzen on our Marquee Stage at 2pm. A remarkably precocious talent, Chloe won the 2017 Youth Music Showcase at the Peterborough Music Festival. Though only 12, she has already released her first CD, “Beneath Safer Skies” (left), with all proceeds going to War Child UK. It includes her award- winning song, “Circus Clown”. Recently Chloe starred as Annie at Stamford Corn Exchange.

Additions to Sunday’s bill include a set from talented classical guitarist Harry Carter, who is already a familiar face at Bythams Music events, both as a performer and sound engineer. Yet despite only being 18 years old, Harry, with a decade’s experience in performing classical guitar, has recently completed his grade 8 and started to focus on his musical diploma. He has performed in many different venues across the county, from large concerts to small private dinner parties including the Peterborough Mayor’s farewell
ball. With a modern interpretation on classical Spanish guitar, he always puts his own spin on a piece.

Finally, to round off Sunday’s performances on the Marquee Stage in style, we are excited to announce the reunion of Flash! Their funky guitarist Bob Wells may be familiar to you from his appearances with Bianca & the TopCats, but here he rejoins two friends from West London to play classics from the era of glam rock – T Rex, Bowie, Thin Lizzy, Hawkwind, the Quo… the finishing touch to another excellent weekend of music for all tastes!

For full details of the programme, regularly updated as more information becomes available, go to our Midsummer Festival 2017 listing page.

Bythams Music is delighted to announce the first bands and performers booked for this year’s festival. Even bigger and better than ever, this musical and artistic feast is all part of the wider weekend Midsummer Festival programme.

Saturday June 17: 1.30pm – 11pm

To start the festival weekend we have a range of excellent local bands and solo artistes playing on the main Meadow Stage and also the Green (acoustic) stage at St Martin’s Field. Some you may have seen before, which is always great, but in true serendipitous spirit, there will be others who you won’t have heard of but are guaranteed to fall in love with….

Sunday June 18: 10.00am – 5.00pm

We’ve got you covered!And don’t forget, we now have our huge marquee, which means that bands and audience can all be under cover if, heaven forbid, it should rain! And if it is boiling hot (fingers crossed!) then we can all be in the shade. Either way, everyone wins!

Living history
Away from the main meadow site, and in keeping with the weekend’s medieval theme (primarily on Sunday), we will also have a wonderful array of historical re-enactors, including an alchemist, a bodger, touring theatre, a magician, archery, falconry, a coracle demonstration, lots of children’s activities and parade – and our very own knight in shining armour.

Appropriate musical accompaniment will be by Tourdion, who will perform in the streets, entertaining visitors to the village’s ever-popular fair and street market on Sunday. In the village hall and two pubs – the Castle Inn and Fox and Hounds – the Lincolnshire Poachers will be performing. In the church, Village Voices, a local choir, will be singing their interpretations of medieval songs and music.

Watch this space!
Further bands and performers are still to be announced, so watch this space. Further details about the bands and the line-up will be in our special souvenir programme, which will be available just before the Festival. All timings are subject to change.

Can you help?
We are always looking for folks to come and help us put on the festival, so if you have a few hours spare before or over the weekend, do come and join in the fun.

Bythams Music is very grateful to Rutland Radio for promoting this year’s music programme.

The Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival 2017 is being supported by the Big Lottery Fund through its Celebrate! programme:

Bythams Midsummer Festival 2017 needs YOU!

Once again we invite bands and artists to play at Castle Bytham’s free annual music festival – over the weekend of 17–18 June 2017.

A highlight of the local music calendar, this unique two-day midsummer event has an enviable reputation. Bringing together musical acts from near and far, it has all the creative energy you would expect from a far larger festival of arts.

In the fantastic scenic setting of St Martin’s Meadow (lying at the foot of the Norman Castle Mound), our large Main Stage (fully marquee-covered, for performers and audience) is now successfully joined within the same arena by an “Acoustic” stage. Full sound rigs, operated by sound engineers, and lighting are provided.

We estimate attendance at 3,000­–4,000 over the weekend, with up to 750 people in St Martin’s Meadow at peak times.

Be part of the Bythams Midsummer Festival experience

We welcome a broad range of musical styles ­– from bands to solo acoustic performers – and are keen to encourage new and young performers.

The music will alternate between two stages (from approx. 2.00pm–10.30pm on Saturday 17 June* and approx. 11.30am–6.00pm on Sunday 18 June*), with sets lasting 25–60 minutes. Sunday’s music programme is an integral part of the long-established Castle Bytham Midsummer Fair, with its famous street market and many other entertainments woven throughout the centre of the village.

The main Meadow Stage, set within a large marquee and wider outdoor arena, plays to audiences of 400–500 people and can accommodate acts as diverse as big bands and dance troupes, school choirs and rock groups.

Providing a more intimate setting, ideal for solo acts, duos or trios, the open-air Acoustic Stage is itself covered.

Bythams Midsummer Festival is run entirely by volunteers; proceeds support local charities and good causes. We hope that performers will support our ethos, but modest fees and expenses are negotiable; we also provide you with refreshments on the day.

We also promise a great sound system, an appreciative audience, a write-up in our professionally designed colour souvenir programme, the chance to promote your work and sell CDs and other merchandise, but above all, the opportunity to be part of this unique event.

Stamford School pupil James Ellis, a teenager from the Bythams, is demonstrating his extraordinary enterprise and promotional skill by organising Musicality, a major concert at Peterborough Arena on Friday 4th November in support of four very deserving charities.

James’s action was prompted by a shocking incident on a school rugby tour last year when his friend George Robinson was seriously injured, severely damaging his spinal cord. In James’s own words:

”Last summer, when on Rugby tour to South Africa, an accident happened. On one sunny afternoon, many lives can be turned upside down simply by one incident. This made me realise just how precious every life really is and how quickly things can change.

With this, I grew the passion to make change for those unfortunate people that we see every day. Not only to financially support the charities, but to show them that in modern society, they have the support of thousands of people.

The 4 causes that we have chosen to benefit from this concert are simply incredible. Between them they have supported and inspired hundreds of individuals and their families. I first gained exposure to them when I was at primary school and have a connection to each one; having seen first-hand how public support can change peoples’ lives. I wanted to create this event at Peterborough Arena.

I had a dream and this dream is coming true. To bring to you a concert, as a show of reward, for all the hard work that has been given by these charities over the years.

100% of all proceeds will be split between the beneficiaries with no profit taken by our organisation. Let’s bring thousands of people together at 1 place and at 1 time, to show our support. You will not forget this night, I promise.

Let’s pull together. Let’s change lives.”

James Ellis

Bythams Music wish James every success and urge everyone to spread the word and support him.

Well, that’s it for another year! The Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival was bigger and better than ever. The weather was kind to us (having been dreadful earlier in the week) and we got the site set up in the dry.

Speaking of dry, the Music and Beer Festival on Saturday went really well, selling out all of the guest beers and cider as well as almost every other drop of liquid that could be squeezed out of the village!

Sunday, fair day, was a beautiful day. There was a constant stream of visitors, many of whom lingered to sit in the warm sunshine and listen to the excellent range of music as it alternated between our two stages on St Martins’ Field.

We also managed to fit in a very last-minute late-morning concert at St James’ Church, by special request. Our provision of such a special venue at very short notice was much appreciated by the performers (a group of students from The Purcell School) and their mixed programme of classical music and sultry jazz was rapturously received by the audience.

A wide variety of new and well-established musical acts performed over the weekend. It was great to welcome back several favourite old friends again, some with new or expanded line-ups, as well as see and hear performers who hadn’t played the Bythams before.

We made loads of good contacts and we’re sure we’ll be hearing great things from many of the talented newcomers, some whose skill and stage presence belied their youth. We look forward to welcoming them – and you – back in future. See you next year!

We have a very exciting late addition to our music programme for Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival this Sunday. We are delighted to be able to welcome IMPULSE, an International Outreach Training programme for 16–18 year olds at The Purcell School, Britain’s oldest specialist music school.

IMPULSE – The Lincolnshire Team

The Lincolnshire Team, led by Sam, the runner-up in Young Drummer of the Year, include dazzling classical musicians who have performed in London venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms), Royal Festival Hall and Wigmore Hall, and the fabulous rising stars ‘The Delegates’, a Jazz/Funk/Soul band whose lead singer Alice is an International Jazz Festival participant.

As with the rest of the festival, admission is free of charge (though the church is always very grateful for donations!)

This project is supported by Lincolnshire Music Education Hub led by the award-winning Lincolnshire Music Service, funded by the Department for Education through Arts Council England. (The Hub unites around 22 organisations to achieve the highest-quality music opportunities for children and young people across Lincolnshire.)